by Christina Miller, @CLMillerbooks

Growing up as a book girl in a family of teachers and coaches of every sport that existed in rural, redneck southern Indiana, I never dreamed anyone would someday call me “Coach.” But about a year ago, I followed in their footsteps and added author coaching to my editorial services.

However, instead of free throws, interceptions, and corner kicks—whatever they are—my trainees and I work on things like idea development, brainstorming plot and/or characterization problems, and staying motivated.

As with a basketball or football coach, a writing coach helps authors develop and hone skills she needs to succeed. She’ll also encourage you, assist you in creating a writing schedule, keep you accountable, recommend books to help you in your craft, and act as your publishing consultant. She may eventually become your editor. Equally important, she’ll be a friend who cheers you on from the sidelines. 

When you find a coach, how will you know if she’s right for you? First, meet with her. Most coaches offer a free thirty-minute consultation via a phone or video call. 

During the meeting, ask the coach:

1. Her experience. Having a lot of clients could be a mark of a good coach. However, keep in mind that even beginning coaches can do a good job. If she’s starting out, ask if she’s active in a critique group or has helped authors for free before starting her coaching business.
2. Her genre of choice. Is she comfortable working with yours? Does she specialize in your genre?
3. Her publishing and editing history. Some coaches are editors, some are authors, and some, like me, are both. Do you want your coach to be published with a traditional house? Do you want someone experienced in editing? Or both?

4. Her availability and time zone. Can she start coaching you right away, or does she have a waiting list? Can she meet as often as you need? Also, make sure her schedule works with yours. Time zones matter. If you’re on Eastern time, as I am, and your coach is on the west coast, is she willing to meet with you early in her morning, or can you meet with her late in your day?  
5. Her strengths. Does she bring plotting help, encouragement, extensive knowledge of the biz, great content-editing skills, and/or a vivid imagination to the table? 
6. Her rates. The Editorial Freelancers Association reports the median rate for coaching is $61–$70 per hour. https://www.the-efa.org/rates/ That means some coaches charge more; some charge less.
7. How many “freebies” she offers, if any. For example, my clients receive complimentary copies of some of the instruction sheets that, Lord willing, I’ll sell in my soon-to-open Etsy store. For example, a new author might receive instructions on POV, beautiful writing, how to write historical novels, and/or tightening the writing. 
8. How she structures her coaching. For example, if my client has only a story spark or perhaps a partial manuscript, we start by talking through what she has and how she could turn it into a story. Then I give her a writing assignment, and we set the next meeting date. Or if the author has most or all of the book written and realizes certain aspects just aren’t working, we can talk through and brainstorm a solution and/or I can switch to editing mode. The structure depends on the client’s need. 
9. How often she communicates with the author between meetings. A good sports coach always keeps tabs on her team between games. Likewise, a good writing coach has her author’s best interest at heart and watches over her like a shepherd.

After the meeting, ask yourself these questions:

1. Was the coach enthusiastic about coaching, about your project, and about books/writing in general? 
2. Do her methods resonate with you?
3. Did you sense a connection with her? Would you want her as a friend?
4. Do her schedule and rates work for you?
5. Is she a published author? If so, read one of her recent books to discover whether she has skills you need.

How about you? What questions do you have for a writing coach?

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Embracing His Past

Stunned to learn he has an adult son, widower Harrison Mitchell’s eager to track him down and build a relationship. But when he uproots his life and moves to Natchez, Mississippi, he’s hit with another surprise: his new boss, Anise Armstrong, is his son’s adoptive mother. Now he must win her trust to prove he deserves to be a father and grandfather … and possibly a husband.\

Author Christina Miller’s idea of a perfect day involves a southern beach, a stack of books, and a glass of sweet tea. Years ago, she left her job as an RN to work in the church her husband pastors. She also became a writer—and sometimes she gets to write on the beach. Christina is a Love Inspired author, Bethany Global University (Bloomington, Minnesota) graduate with degrees in theology and missiology, church secretary, worship leader, and children’s ministry teacher. She has owned and operated Mentor’s Pen Editorial Services (mentorspen@gmail.com) for the past fourteen years, specializing in fiction editing. When she doesn’t have her nose in a book or her toes in the sand, you might catch her visiting an antebellum mansion, opening her early-American home for Dinner Church, or teaching at a women’s conference. Christina lives on her family farm with her husband of thirty-four years.